I put my hands over my ears quite often as an emergency vehicle comes past. Believe it or not, it's not meant as an affront to any of the responders, or even as an indication that I think you should be quiet - I know there's a good and valid reason for the noise. It's simply because it's very loud and hurts my ears and my head. I don't think I deserve "rude gestures" from you any more than I deserve them from other drivers.